Wallingford Swarthmore School District
Title I Program
Parental Involvement Policy
The Title I program at Nether Providence Elementary endorses the mission statement of the school district:
The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is committed to assuring the academic achievement and personal growth of all students within an environment that promotes:
§ Respect for self and others
§ Active engagement in learning
§ Leadership in the global community
§ The pursuit of excellence
Vision: Our vision is to develop a world class school district that prepares our students with the skills to succeed in a changing global environment. This will be realized through a commitment to high quality programs and continuous improvement based on a careful analysis and integration of the most effective practices.
This policy was created in March 2006 and is updated annually with input from a committee of parents and teachers.
2013-2014 Committee
Parents Mrs. Burge
Teachers Mrs. Wilson, Classroom Teacher
Ms. Spitz, Title I Teaching Assistant
Mrs. Thomas, Title I Teacher
Mrs. Gaudioso, Title I Coordinator
Mr. Heinle, Principal
Parental Involvement Policy
This School Parent Involvement Policy was developed in consultation with parents of Title I children attending Nether Providence Elementary School.
This policy and the school’s Title I program are presented to parents annually and are reviewed by a committee which includes Title I parents, Title I teachers, and the Title I coordinator.
When a child is selected to participate in the Title I program, a letter of notification is sent to parents to describe the selection process and the program. This letter contains suggestions for completing homework and other helpful at home activities.
An annual fall meeting is held to provide an overview of the Title I program including student selection, expectations for the students, and how parents can be involved.
A parent committee has developed the Parent Compact which details the educational responsibilities of school, parent, and child. It is issued annually to students and parents participating in the Title I program. The compact is introduced and discussed at the annual Title I fall parent meeting.
A spring meeting for Title I parents and children is held to provide information about working with children at home to improve reading. Title I children and their parents participate in activities such as Bingo and Word Muncher night. (*Due to construction, this meeting was combined with the fall parent meeting.)
Parents who are unable to attend any Title I meeting generally receive handouts and are encouraged to meet with the Title I teacher at a convenient time.
The Title I program provides a reading incentive program (RAZ-kids.com) to Title I students over the summer. The students are also given their Word Study Notebook to complete. Students and families are encouraged to complete the activities and to return them in September to earn a reward.
Title I students are invited to participate in the Summer Readers’ Theater Camp. Parents are invited to the culminating activity.
The Title I reading program houses a selection of games and activities that can be signed out and used at home to practice skills. This includes headsets to be used with RAZ-kids.com.
Back to School Night is held each September to introduce the school faculty to parents and to share an overview of the curriculum for each grade. Parents visit the classrooms and teachers introduce the curriculum. The Title I teachers are available to meet with parents on Back to School Night.
Report cards are sent to parents twice per school year.
New families are invited to visit their children’s school during the kindergarten orientation and the New Parents’ Tea & Orientation. With prior arrangements, parents may visit the classrooms and meet with the principal.
Parent conferences are held at various times throughout the year. Parents may request conferences at any time. The Title I teachers will provide feedback and/or may participate in conferences along with the classroom teachers.
Other parent involvement activities include serving as library and tech lab volunteers, writers’ workshop volunteers, classroom readers/presenters, homeroom parent volunteers. Parents also have the opportunity to volunteer to assist with class projects and as chaperones on class field trips.
The Nether Providence Elementary School employs a school psychologist, guidance counselor, and school nurse who work to service the needs of students and communicate with parents as needed.
The Instructional Support Teacher meets with a team of teachers, specialists, and parents to address specific needs of students who are not making satisfactory progress. The team may consist of parents, the school principal, IST teacher, school nurse, counselor, school psychologist, classroom teachers, reading specialists and others as appropriate.
Parents are encouraged to take part in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) which meets monthly. Monthly meetings include presentations by the faculty and outside speakers, as well as PTO program information. The executive board of the PTO meets once a month and includes parents and the principal. There is a faculty representative in attendance at all PTO meetings to encourage communication between parents and teachers.
Parent volunteers are encouraged to participate in frequent fundraising and school wide social events sponsored by the PTO.
Newsletters which contain helpful hints are sent home with all students in the elementary school in order to suggest effective ways for parents to help their children. The PTO also publishes a monthly newsletter (via email and website) which provides calendars and information about upcoming events at the school as well as information from the principal and guidance counselor. A weekly “E-Blast” email is also sent out to parents. The PTO has also launched a parent website.
The principal also sends out regular communications and bi-weekly “E-Blast” emails.
The PTO supports educational and cultural events through the Dimensions in Living assembly program and various afterschool programs.
The PTO and parent volunteers host the annual Teacher Appreciation luncheon.
Parents sponsor the 5th grade yearbook, closing ceremony and end of school celebration. They also support the annual 5th Grade Williamsburg Field Trip.
Individual results of state testing for grades 3, 4, and 5 are mailed to parents.
Communication with parents is also made through monthly school calendars, the PTO bulletin board, the school sign, the district and teacher web sites, the community and district’s cable TV channels, school directory, flyers, email, and reminders.
Opportunities for parents to communicate with teachers are provided through e-mail, voice mail, or individual letters and notes.
Families are invited to participate in a variety of community service events such as gardening, school beautification, CityTeam charities, disaster relief, and other fundraisers, including Seeds of Change, Jump Rope for Heart, Moving to Make a Difference Walk-a-thon, Mini Relay for Life, the December School-wide Service Project, and the annual community dinner and book fairs.
Families and community members often participate in annual seasonal recreation events such as the Halloween Parade, Fall Ball, Gobble Bowl, Field Day, NPE’s Got Talent, Pizza Bingo, and the May Fair.
Parent volunteers serve as Homeroom parents and participate in classroom plays, picnics, parties and various musical concerts and fine arts events. Parents also participate in the Fall Feast (Kindergarten/1st grade), Parent Breakfast (3rd grade), State Fair Project (2nd grade), Gingerbread House Project (Kindergarten) and International Day (3rd grade) celebrations.
Parents are involved in co-curricular activities such as the Invention Convention, Art Goes To School, and Read Across America.
Parent volunteers serve on the District’s Wellness Committee, Sustainability Committee and The WSSD Foundation Board/Committee.
Parent volunteers are invited to participate in the Sunshine Committee and Holiday Giving to serve needy families.
Parents work with and support the various Student Council events throughout the school year.
Each year Title I parents are invited to request helpful parenting resources at no cost from the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV.
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